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UniformsThe National Maritime Museum's extensive uniform collection holds over 7000 items of regulation dress, ratings’ clothing, ceremonial wear and accessories. Collections Online features a selection of garments, from the first Royal Naval uniform pattern of 1748 through to 20th-century examples. Browse the entire collection or: View by:
About this collectionThe National Maritime Museum's extensive uniform collection holds over 7000 items of regulation dress, ratings’ clothing, ceremonial wear and accessories. Collections Online features a selection of garments, from the first Royal Naval uniform pattern of 1748 through to 20th-century examples. Highlights include a captain's full dress coat of the 1774 pattern as worn by Captain James Cook (1728-79) in the famous portrait by Nathaniel Dance – although we do not know its original owner – and three of Nelson's (1758-1805) coats including the undress uniform in which he was fatally wounded at Trafalgar. Uniforms of the 1812 pattern take the story up to the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Later naval uniforms include those of the reserves and attached forces, such as the Royal Marines. The majority of the merchant service uniforms date from the 20th century, although the collection also contains a small number from the Honourable East India Company, which held a monopoly of trade with the East from 1600 until the early 19th century. Although there was no official uniform for naval ratings until 1857, naval captains tried to keep their ship's companies looking similar and smart. Frocks and sailor suits, including one worn by Edward VII as Prince of Wales, are among the collection. Symbols of rank, such as epaulettes, buttons and lace, are featured in detail. Smaller objects like cap badges, sword belts and buckles, and cap ribbons represent the significant number of accessories in the collection. Items of clothing worn with uniform but not prescribed in the regulations such as stockings, stocks and a shirt are also included. In addition to documenting the alterations made to uniforms through pattern regulations, the relationship between contemporary fashion and the cut and construction of uniforms is thoroughly explored in Collections Online. Researchers are welcome to study items but an appointment must be made in advance. Please contact the E-library for further information. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8312 6516 Related websites |
